What can the rest of Indiana learn from Columbus? From an article in the Star Press of Muncie: The American Institute of Architects ranks Columbus as the sixth city in the nation for architectural innovation and design? (The ones listed 1-5 are: Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.) and this: What every [...]
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Learning from Columbus, Indiana
by Jon Swerens on December 14, 2009, in Architecture, Urban design, Urbanism
Are chain stores bad for downtowns?
by Jon Swerens on December 10, 2009, in Architecture, Downtown, Urbanism
The mayor of Bloomington is proposing a ban on chain stores in downtown. Can such a ban save a downtown?
Results of downtown design survey
by Jon Swerens on December 4, 2009, in Architecture, Downtown, Urbanism
“Fort Wayne residents have once again expressed support for thoughtful design in downtown Fort Wayne through the downtown design survey earlier this fall. An internal team and an advisory group will use the survey’s information as they create a Downtown Design Manual by early next year.”
In Defense of Fake Authenticity
by Jon Swerens on May 28, 2009, in Culture, Philosophy, Theology
My friend Scott is frustrated with a pizza place. He enjoyed the food, he liked the prices, and he thought the service was acceptable. But he still feels like he’s been lied to — by the building itself.
Urban find #1
by Jon Swerens on October 27, 2008, in Urban finds
This is a first in a possible series of cool-looking but underused urban buildings and settings in Fort Wayne. Where is the above building located?
Slow down, you move too fast
by Jon Swerens on June 26, 2008, in Culture, Transportation, Urbanism
A policy that encourages cars to keep moving privileges cars at the expense of pedestrians and bicyclists. Since drivers, for the most part, already believe that they have priority on the road, in places where there are many more walkers and bicyclists, drivers able to drive more quickly because of fewer impediments would likely feel [...]
Come, let us rezone together
by Jon Swerens on June 24, 2008, in Downtown, Urbanism
I’m completely ripping off The News-Sentinel’s headline above, but it’s too good not to. (BTW: Great headline, Caleb!) In his column today, Kevin Leininger comments on the proposed rezoning of 633 properties in a “downtown edge” zone. On paper, perhaps, the proposed changes — intended to codify earlier downtown improvements plans — don’t seem all [...]
‘Is America’s suburban dream collapsing into a nightmare?’
by Jon Swerens on June 20, 2008, in Culture, Neighborhoods, Urbanism
The above is the provocative headline on a story on cnn.com. After some description of the foreclosures in suburbia, the story focuses on the shifting attitudes of homeowners. “The American dream is absolutely changing,” (Christopher Leinberger, an urban planning professor at the University of Michigan and visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution,) told CNN. This [...]
Bacteria that eat waste and poop petroleum
by Jon Swerens on June 19, 2008, in Culture, Transportation, Urbanism
What in the world? We’re talking about the genetic alteration of bugs — very, very small ones — so that when they feed on agricultural waste such as woodchips or wheat straw, they do something extraordinary. They excrete crude oil. Unbelievably, this is not science fiction. Mr Pal holds up a small beaker of bug [...]
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